I’ve been meaning to write about the CHANEL Cruise 2018 show for a few days now, but life and work got in the way…until now. Unlike many of the CHANEL resort shows, this year’s Modernity of Antiquity collection was presented in Paris instead of the destination which inspired the designs. But of course, that just meant that the Grand Palais was transformed into Karl’s vision of Ancient Greece, complete with weathered columns and crumbling rocks, sparse greenery, and a headless statue of Venus (a copy of Coco Chanel’s own statue that I was lucky to see at her rue Cambon apartment in Paris). The collection itself was both very true to the spirit of CHANEL, but with many subtle (and not to subtle) nods to its Hellenic inspirations.

The palette consisted of neutrals and blues, punctuated by pops of gold. It’s not my personal preference when it comes to clothing, but I did appreciate the intricate vine embroidery and vase-inspired prints. Traditional CHANEL tweeds were transformed into chic togas, strappy heels had Greek columns for heels, and plenty of covet-worthy jewels were on display – from dainty chokers to stacked cuffs and armbands. Standout accessories included a gold coin clutch, gilded laurel leaf sunglasses (NEED!!!), and statement belts, though my personal favourite was probably the metallic backpack in what appeared to be pleated leather. Just like with the CHANEL Cuba collection, I predict the CC logo t-shirt to become yet another best-seller, both wearable and so uniquely CHANEL.

What did you think about CHANEL Cruise 2018 collection? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Leave it to Karl Lagerfeld to put a rocket ship in the middle of the Grand Palais and still make it about fashion. With space as inspiration, the CHANEL Fall 2017 collection certainly left me star-struck. Astronaut, planet and constellation prints, moon and star jewelry, iridescent tweeds, and even textures imitating planetary surfaces were all part of the dreamy “Ground Control” collection. And while the majority of the pieces were created in a classic palette of black, silver and white, the dreamy midnight blue tweeds studded with beads and pearls (and reminiscent of starry skies), as well as metallic green leather pieces added the exciting pops of colour to the collection.

For me, the standout accessories included the adorable rocket minaudiere, the beautiful CHANEL SPACE constellation clutch, and the star and moon brooches and necklaces. It seems that backpacks are also firmly back as part of CHANEL’s regular offering, as several styles of backpacks were shown on the runway – larger and sportier than the classic quilted leather ones of prior seasons, so perfect for interstellar exploring or the more mundane air travel. Most models rocked various versions of the square-toed glitter boots on the runway, paired with the embellished wool headbands and Brigitte Bardot-inspired hairstyles – lending the show retro 60’s vibes…and perhaps a cheeky nod to the 60’s Space Race.

Scroll through the gallery below and let me know which pieces caught your eye, and whether you loved the stellar CHANEL Fall 2017 collection as much as I did.

If you’ve been patiently waiting for the “Data Center” CHANEL Spring/Summer 2017 collection to arrive in stores, today is the day…the pre-collection hits the stores! Which means we still have to wait until March for Spring/Summer 2017 collection to arrive. But you can still enjoy the colourful and playful ad campaign shot by Karl Lagerfeld, featuring that coveted (and adorable) robot minaudiere.

“The silhouettes combine striking pieces and an accumulation of pieces of fine jewellery. A silk jacket with a hypnotic print is embellished with sautoirs and necklaces in white or yellow gold, diamonds and multi-colour cultured pearls, and with rings and earrings in white gold and diamonds, from the Plume de CHANEL, Sous le signe du Lion, Camélia and Ruban collections. The high-tech aesthetic of two J12 watches in white ceramic completes the look.

A series of resin and silvery metal cuffs accessorise a patent leather jacket worn with the BOY CHANEL handbag, the iconic House handbag revisited here in a perforated white leather version. A fanny pack nonchalantly clashes with a multi-colour cotton tweed jacket and skirt ensemble worn with a yellow crêpe de chine blouse.”

I’m going to be popping into my local boutique today to check out some of the pieces from the pre-collection in person, but what I’m really excited about are those camellia sunnies, though if you had a chance to peruse the CHANEL app, you probably have seen the really cool jewelry from Spring/Summer 2017 pre-collection too. Being good is going to be very, VERY hard today.

What do you think of CHANEL Spring/Summer 2017 ad campaign? Share in the comments!

I know my last post was about CHANEL, but as soon as I saw these photos I knew I had to share them! Because these CHANEL Spring-Summer 2017 Eyewear Pre-Collection camellia sunglasses are ridiculously beautiful, and I need a pair (or two) in my life.

“The CHANEL Spring-Summer 2017 eyewear pre-collection is made up of two lines of sunglasses; while one focuses on an edgy and feminine version of the camellia, the other has fun with sporty, laid-back frames in pastels and neon tones.

In this new episode based around the camellia, the black and white nylon petals blossom around black or pink mirrored glass on cat eye frames. The temples in matte metal are punctuated with a double C.”

I missed out on the last highly-coveted pair of CHANEL sunnies (and I’m still not over it!), so this time, I’m on it! Of course, the camellia shades are not the only new styles arriving for pre-collection. The fun sporty pairs will be available in cheerful colours with transparent lenses (and kind of remind me of a pair I used to own back in the early 2000’s). Whichever style you’re interested in, the collection is supposed to arrive in stores sometime this month (January 2017); and you’d better call your SA to put your name down for a pair if you really want one (especially the camellia ones). I predict a lot of street style sightings of these sunnies come fashion month.

What do you think of CHANEL Spring-Summer 2017 Pre-Collection? Which pair would you splurge on?

As a huge fan of CHANEL and all things colourful, I really loved Data Center CHANEL Spring 2017 collection. With vibrant tweeds and prints aplenty, this collection made me wish we could skip winter and just get to spring again. But alas, at least we have something beautiful to look forward to.

CHANEL Spring 2017 collection was inspired by technology and all things digital. Models dressed as robots walked the wired-up runway, wearing clothes in a variety of electric prints like colour bursts and pixels. Some handbags had embedded LED displays with animated customized messages, while the signature minaudiere from the Spring 2017 collection was shaped as the cutest robot ever – these bags will surely become collectors’ items as soon as they arrive at boutiques (and sell out immediately).

And while I won’t be wearing a sideways cap any time soon, I am more than happy to embrace the underwear as outerwear trend that CHANEL and Karl Lagerfeld seem to be on board with for spring. Lace slips and silk PJ bottoms – garments that are usually relegated to the bedroom, or worn discreetly under our clothes – were on full display, and I’m totally into it. It seems that I’ll be getting lots more wear from my camisole dresses after all.

What did you think of the CHANEL Spring 2017 collection? Share in the comments.

A while back I wrote about the amazing CHANEL Cuba Cruise 2017 collection, and the one piece I really (REEEEALLLY) wanted to get my hands on was the colourful graphic tee. Well, dreams do come true, because I finally got to wear one to the CNE last weekend! And while the collection won’t be hitting the boutiques until some time in November, I predict that this t-shirt is going to be one of the hottest items, and will most likely sell out immediately. So if you’re really serious about owning one, make sure to call your SA and ask to put one on hold in your size.

I love that graphic tees are making a high-fashion return. As you can see, I was inspired by the runway show styling, and paired my tee with a tweed pencil skirt, but of course, you can wear yours with denim or leather, under a blazer, or over a dress, dress it up or down. These tees are super versatile and a little retro, and I’m officially obsessed.

Do you like the graphic tee trend? Share your thoughts after the jump!

While I was sunning my buns on vacation in Portugal, H&M released the first sneak peek photos of the KENZO x H&M collection. As expected, the garments look vibrant, printtastic, and super fun. And while the zebra pieces may not be my cup of tea, the pink shearling-lined leather coat is exactly what I didn’t know was missing in my life. And just like that, with one sneak peek, I am foaming at the mouth, anticipating the November drop date like a fashion lemming that I am. Sorry, not sorry.

What did you think of the first look at the KENZO x H&M collection? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Every time I decide that I have enough (read: way too many) feline-inspired fashion items in my wardrobe, I inevitably see another one that makes my kitty-loving heart skip a beat and I’m back at square one. I blame years of cat-fashion deprivation – long before cats were en vogue, seeing feline fashions was a rarity, so now that they are so popular, I am tempted to buy them all, like a crazy cat lady hoarder that I am.

This week, my heart is set on this adorable Charlotte Olympia Feline Bucket Bag (USD $1,095/CAD $1,490), kitty ears and all. It can be worn over the shoulder or across body, comes in a variety of colours and leather finishes, and I really (really) want one. Unlike other Charlotte Olympia kitty bags, this one actually looks pretty roomy – large enough for your wallet and other essentials, and it’s understated enough not to look too cartoonish with your more sophisticated outfits. Oh, and there’s a backpack version as well, if that’s more your style.
So tell me, am I going full catlady here, or do you think these Charlotte Olympia cat bags are cute af? Let me know in the comments.

This week marked a historic moment in fashion history – CHANEL and Karl Lagerfeld presented the Cruise 2017 collection in Cuba, the day after the first U.S. ship docked in Havana in nearly 40 years! The vibrant collection was shown on Paseo del Prado, the street that divides Old Havana from Centro Habana, and which was redesigned in 1928 by a French landscape architect who placed eight bronze statues of lions (Coco Chanel’s favourite animal and her zodiac sign) at every crossroads of the street.

The collection was probably one of the more relaxed ones I’ve seen from CHANEL in years, with graphic tees (I need one so badly!) tucked into pencil skirts and worn with slides, airy dresses paired with Panama hats, and an abundance of chic denim pieces. The accessories played an homage to Cuba, with a cigar box minaudiere, playful tropical brooches, and a Coco Club (Havana Club stand-in) knapsack. Vintage cars made for a fun all-over print that appeared on several runway garments, all flowy and vibrant.

I’ve been to Havana twice in the past, and loved the look and feel of the old town – pastel buildings, classic cars, live music, friendly locals. And while most Cubans won’t be able to afford any of CHANEL’s garments that were presented in Havana this spring, the attention that this show brought to this beautiful Caribbean country can only mean more tourism and more money flowing into the economy. And that’s a great thing.

What did you think of CHANEL Cuba Cruise Collection? Share your thoughts in the comments.

As someone who loves to travel and prides herself on travelling in style, I am obsessed with this CHANEL Coco Case video, featuring Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld with 2 gorgeous Coco Case cabin cases from the Spring-Summer 2016 collection. Though I am pretty sure both Karl and Carine have assistants who take care of their luggage, the cases are so special, I wouldn’t want to let them out of my sight either.

If you want to step up your jetset style, it looks like you can pick up a carry-on case starting at USD 4,900 for the tweed or printed version, or USD 7,000 for the glazed calfskin (my fave!). It’s definitely a big purchase for most of us, but if you take good care of it, it’ll probably last you forever, as long as you don’t ever check it – you don’t want your CHANEL luggage to be mishandled by baggage handlers. Also, if you think about it, for the size of the case, it’s a pretty good deal, especially if you compare it to the price of a regular CHANEL flap bag. It’s still an investment, but a beautiful one that will make you smile every time you’re at the airport.

My birthday is coming up, so I’ll be saving up my pennies until June. We’ll see if I finally graduate to a fancy Coco Case like Karl’s. What do you think of CHANEL luggage cases? Are they worth it? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Check out more of the CHANEL Spring-Summer 2016 cabin cases after the jump![Read more…]

WHAT I WORE

WHO IS NELIA?

Nelia Belkova is a Toronto-based fashion and lifestyle blogger by night and a financial analyst by day. She loves to travel, read gossip sites, eat sweets, and cuddle up to her husband and her cat on the couch. Read More…